Rules : Signs

Adding / Subtracting of Integers with

How to Add and Subtract Positive and Negative Numbers

Numbers Can be Positive or Negative:

Negative Numbers () Positive Numbers (+) (This is the Number Line, read about Using The Number Line)

"" is the negative sign.

"+" is the positive sign

No Sign Means Positive If a number has no sign it usually means that it is a positive number. Example: 5 is really +5 Adding Positive Numbers Adding positive numbers is just simple addition. Example: 2 + 3 = 5 is really saying "Positive 2 plus Positive 3 equals Positive 5" You could write it as (+2) + (+3) = (+5) Subtracting Positive Numbers Subtracting positive numbers is just simple subtraction. Example: 6 3 = 3 is really saying "Positive 6 minus Positive 3 equals Positive 3" You could write it as (+6) (+3) = (+3)

But what happens if we have negative numbers ... ?

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Rules : Signs

Subtracting a Negative is the same as Adding Example: What is 6 (3) ? 6(3) = 6 + 3 = 9 Example: What is 14 (4) ? 14(4) = 14 + 4 = 18 We explain why later!

What About Positive and Negative Together ... ? You can also have questions like: What is 6 (+3) ? or what is 6 + (3) ? They are really the same! Both are subtraction: Subtracting a Positive or Adding a Negative is Subtraction Example: What is 6 (+3) ? 6(+3) = 6 3 = 3 Example: What is 5 + (7) ? 5+(7) = 5 7 = 2 And Here Are The Rules Rule Two like signs become a positive sign +(+) () +() (+) Example 3+(+2) = 3 + 2 = 5 6(3) = 6 + 3 = 9 7+(2) = 7 2 = 5 8(+2) = 8 2 = 6

Two unlike signs become a negative sign

They are "like signs" when they are like each other (in other words: the same).

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Rules : Signs
So, all you have to remember is: Two like signs become a positive sign Two unlike signs become a negative sign

Example: What is 5+(2) ? +() are unlike signs (they are not the same), so they become a negative sign. 5+(2) = 5 2 = 3 Example: What is 25(4) ? () are like signs, so they become a positive sign. 25(4) = 25+4 = 29 Example: What is 6+(+3) ? +(+) are like signs, so they become a positive sign. 6+(+3) = 6 + 3 = -3 Start at 6 on the number line, move forward 3, and you end up at 3

Multiplying and Dividing Integers

You multiply or divide integers just as you do whole numbers, except you must keep track of the signs. To multiply or divide signed integers, always multiply or divide the absolute values and use these rules to determine the sign of the answer.

When you multiply two integers with the same signs, the result is always positive. Just multiply the absolute values and make the answer positive. Positive x positive = positive Negative x negative = positive When you multiply two integers with different signs, the result is always negative. Just multiply the absolute values and make the answer negative.

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Rules : Signs
Positive x negative = negative Negative x positive = negative When you divide two integers with the same sign, the result is always positive. Just divide the absolute values and make the answer positive. Positive positive = positive Negative negative = positive When you divide two integers with different signs, the result is always negative. Just divide the absolute values and make the answer negative. Positive negative = negative Negative positive = negative Examples

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